Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-07-05

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] German envoy - Interview

[02] Maronite - Jailed - Spying

[03] Ecevit - Illegal visit

1110:CYPPRESS:01

[01] German envoy - Interview

Nicosia, Jul 5 (CNA) -- The increasingly worsening situation on the island and fears that this would degenerate seems to have led the international community to take an interest in the Cyprus peace effort, as this was reflected in the G8 declaration on the problem, Germany's envoy for Cyprus, Detlev Graf zu Rantzau, has said.

He warned that any other similar initiative would not be "very promising."

In an interview with CNA before his departure, Rantzau reiterated his view that "anything and everything" should be on the negotiating table, noting that there are many important issues that need to be tackled, apart from what he described as the "extremely phoney" issue of the status of the Turkish Cypriot leader in the negotiations.

He also said that security is the core issue and said that constitutional guarantees, as these appear in a 1992 UN document of ideas on an overall settlement, are not sufficient as far as the Turkish Cypriots are concerned.

Asked if the G8 initiative to push for peace talks on Cyprus was a last ditch effort to reach an agreement, Rantzau said "the G8 and Germany are guided by the recognition that the situation on the island is getting worse and worse, less and less conducive to a harmonious solution."

This attempt, he said, aims at bringing "a new movement for fear of seeing the situation getting worse."

"Another initiative of this kind would not be very promising," he added.

Asked if negotiations would include all issues, he replied "anything and everything has to be on the table, the issue of status (of the Turkish Cypriot leader) is extremely phoney, there are other issues that are important."

Replying to questions, he said though both sides proclaim their "maximum positions" at this stage, the purpose of the negotiations is "find out levels of agreement between the two."

Invited to identify the key word in talks that would clinch an agreement, count Rantzau said there was no key word in the Cyprus situation.

"The key notion is that by which both sides find their respective security firmly guaranteed and that which would allow normal relations to be established."

He backed President Glafcos Clerides' proposal for the demilitarisation of Cyprus and described it as "part and parcel of an overall settlement."

The leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Rauf Denktash, insists that negotiations are carried out on a state-to-state basis in a bid to obtain some kind of international recognition of his self-styled regime created in the areas occupied by Turkish troops since 1974. The UN framework provides for talks between the island's two communities.

Invited to assess the Turkish Cypriot insistence on upgraded status, the German diplomat said Denktash says that "nothing but independence will guarantee the security of the Turkish Cypriots" and insists Turkish Cypriots are not a minority, even though they make up only 18 per cent of the Cypriot population.

Commenting on the constitutional security guarantees for the Turkish Cypriots, provided by a UN set of ideas, Rantzau said these are not sufficient as far as Denktash is concerned.

These offered the Turkish Cypriots political equality, not meaning numerical equality in all federal government branches, and safeguards to ensure that the federal government will not be empowered to adopt measures against the interests of one community.

"A solution must and can be found, if both sides are willing to give and take and if the main objective is to live in good neighbourliness," the German envoy told CNA.

Asked if he thought the two sides were ready to do that, he said both are "too preoccupied with their own vision and the G8 declaration is trying to give new impetus to the negotiating effort."

He also indicated that although parties start out proclaiming their maximum positions, during the negotiating process, they may very well move away from them to "find out levels of agreement."

CNA MM/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1230:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Maronite - Jailed - Spying

The three-judge assize court meeting in Nicosia said Avgoustinos Skoullou was guilty of collecting information about the National Guard which he noted down and could have been useful to another state with a view to harm the interests of the Republic of Cyprus.

Skoullou's conviction comes several weeks after another Maronite, George Iosifides, was sentenced to six years imprisonment on spying charges and on charges of handing information about the location of military camps, TV and radio stations, the road network, including photographs.

The court heard that Skoullou passed on this information to an officer of the Turkish occupation army, member of the Turkish intelligence, when Skoullou visited the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus.

"The seriousness of offences of this nature, especially at a time when the dangers to the very existence of our country are an obvious reality, need hardly be stressed," judge Georgios Arestis said.

The offences were committed between 1996 and January 1999, when Skoullou was caught red-handed carrying a note on the political situation in Cyprus, intended to be handed to the Turkish military.

The convicted spy was seen on four occasions loitering near National Guard camps and collecting information.

CNA MK/MM/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Ecevit - Illegal visit

It was reported from the occupied areas that Ecevit will head a multi- member Turkish delegation, which will include Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.

During the Turkish delegation's illegal visit the so-called "Association Council" between Turkey and the illegal regime will convene under Cem and so called "foreign minister" Tahsin Ertugruloglu.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island.

Ecevit paid an illegal private visit to the occupied areas last month before the formation of the Turkish government.

CNA SA/EC/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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